Tourism stamps from Bahamas

Bahamas Tourism celebrates its 50th anniversary

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (MOT) in conjunction with the Bahamas Philatelic Bureau General Post Office unveiled four commemorative stamps in honour of the 50th anniversary of the Ministry of Tourism and in recognition of the importance of the tourism industry in The Bahamas at a press conference in Pompey Square.

The Ministry was created in 1964 when the Promotion of Tourism Act gave birth to it and it replaced the organization known as the Development Board. In honor of the 50 years of the Ministry of Tourism and in recognition of the importance of the tourism industry, the Bahamas Postal Service has released 4 Commemorative Stamps; two represent hotels in the Outer Islands and two honor the two giants in the Bahamas’ hotel industry.

Tourism Director General Joy Jibrilu, announced that the four stamps, which also went on sale, will honour two hotels in the Outer Islands and two giants in The Bahamas’ hotel industry. They include the Peace N’ Plenty Resort in Exuma, the Kings Inn, which later became the Princess Resort and Casino in Grand Bahama, Atlantis Paradise Island and Baha Mar Resort on Cable Beach.

Bahamas Princess Resort and Casino

The King’s Inn was built in the 1960s when American shipping magnate Daniel K. Ludwig acquired the land.  The property later became the Bahamas Princess Resort and Casino.  It was comprised of the Princess Tower and the Bahamas Princess Country Club, which was set on 1,000 lush tropical acres with waterfalls and tennis courts.

The property was adjacent to the world famous shops at the International Bazaar.  It was known as the crowning jewel of Grand Bahama, and it helped to develop the tourism industry on the island.

A hot spot for both residents and visitors was the Sultan’s Tent nightclub, located in the Princess Tower.  The nightclub had the same fairy-like Arabian Nights décor.  It had plush scarlet draperies and an elaborate sunken bar which made the “tent” seem so authentic one almost expected a sultan to walk pass.

Stamp of Out Islands, Peace N’ Plenty Hotel

On January 14, 1958, Lawrence Lewis, heir to the Henry Flagler railroad fortune, opened the charming colonial style 24-room Club Peace & Plenty on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma. The main building was originally a sponge warehouse and the bar was a cookhouse dating back several hundred years to the Loyalist cotton plantation days.  Following success in offering a safe, relaxed Bahamian Out Island atmosphere, pristine waters on sheltered Elizabeth Harbour, white powder beaches, and world-class fishing, another wing of 12 rooms was added to the Club for a total of 32 rooms and suites.

Stan Benjamin, a Cleveland, Ohio industrialist purchased the hotel and has brought it along even further. Over the years, Benjamin, the Peace & Plenty, and its management have been singled out for Bahamian Tourism awards, including being honored with the 2004 Cacique Award for Hotelier of the Year. The hotel also received the Silver Jubilee Award in 1998 from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Atlantis Hotel, Paradise Island

Since it opened in 1994, the Atlantis Paradise Island resort and waterpark has played an important part in the Bahamian economy. It was created by South African hotel magnate Sol Kerzner, and is the second largest employer of Bahamians.

When Kerzner opened the resort, he had the intention of creating a never-before-imagined theme destination that would forever change the face of Paradise Island and Nassau.  The resort, now owned by Brookfield, is celebrating its 20^th anniversary as the Ministry of Tourism celebrates its 50^th anniversary.  Over the past 20 years, the resort has contributed significantly to The Bahamas’ gross domestic product, accepted over 200 prestigious travel awards, been featured in more than 5,000 television broadcasts and been the backdrop for countless print, online, and film productions.

Baha Mar

The Bahamas welcomes Baha Mar in 2014 – the 50^th anniversary year of the Ministry of Tourism.  The 1,000-acre, $3.5 billion resort, gaming and entertainment complex, boasts some of the world’s most luxurious hotel brands, including Rosewood, SLS Hotel, Grand Hyatt and the Baha Mar Casino and Hotel.

Within the hotels, Baha Mar will develop 300 exclusive, ultra-luxurious residential condominiums and villas, available for private ownership. Baha Mar’s stunning, new 9,000 square-meter casino will be the largest in the Caribbean, and one of the most compelling and exciting gaming experiences in North America.

The resort also features an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature course and 200,000 square feet of meeting and convention space – the largest in The Bahamas.

- Bahamas Post

Club News

New Special Cover

Special cover on Felicitation to Winners of Commonwealth Games & Asian Games, Bangalore - 6th November 2014

A Special Cover was issued by Karnataka Postal Circle to mark the felicitation to Winners of Commonwealth Games & Asian Games at Bangalore on 6th November 2014. (Special Cover approval no. KTK/31/2014)

Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Government of Karnataka felicitated players of Karnataka who participated and won medals in Commonwealth Games 2014 held in Glasgow and Asian Games 2014 held at Incheon, South Korea.

Courtesy – Indian Philately Digest

Philately Mahaotasav Mahrajganj

                                               - Sandeep Chaurasia

One Day Philately Exhibition was held at Pandit Deendayal Inter College,Mahrajganj,UP on 16-11-14. Sri.Deo Brata Tripathi,(SSPOs,Gorkhpur),Sri.Sardar Singh Yadaw (Sr.Post Master,Gorakhpur),Sandeep Chaurasia,(President,Gorakhpur Philately Club),Sri.A.K.Singh (Philateliast),Sri.Raman Kumar Mandal (Philatelist),Anil Gupta (Philatelist),Sri.Ambrish Pandey (Philatelist) and many school students were present during Exhibition. My Stamp Counter was the main attraction of the Exhibition.

A workshop was organised for Students by Sandeep Chaurasia,Raman Kumar Mandal and Ambrish Pandey. Workshop kit given to students by Gorakhpur Philately Club.A quiz competition was also organised by the members of Gorakhpur Philately Club( Sandeep Chaurasia,Raman Kumar Mandal and Ambrish Pandey).The Result of Quiz Competition is as follows-

First Position- Km.Isha Pandey

Second        -Mr. Shivansh Tripathi

Third           - Mr. Yashwardhan

Consolation  - Km. Pallvi Singh